What is a Care Manager?

In the medical setting, a Care Manager is typically an RN hired to assess, recommend and oversee the implementation of a wide range of medical related issues that arise, or may be expected to arise during patient care. In a non-medical setting, the Care Manager does the same thing but services are limited to needs not directly related to their medical conditions, although some will overlap

If you have concerns about the safety and comfort of your aging parent and need a trusted adviser, a Care Manager could be the perfect choice. A Care Manager is hired to investigate, recommend and oversee the management of systems put into place in your absence for the purpose of enhancing your aging loved one’s comfort and safety. The Manger is available to check on your loved one when you are not able to be with them.”

The Care Manager develops a personal relationship with you and your aging loved one. The relationship is dynamic in that it will change as conditions change. It is likely that the relationship will begin with one concern and move easily into other areas as needs arise. The Care Manager understands the need to be flexible. Very different from the caregiver role or the home health team where only one aspect of the client’s needs are met.

Some examples of what a Care Manager might be able to help with:

Safety Assessment. If your aging parent lives alone an experienced advisor can make an assessment of the living environment and make recommendations for modifications that can make their home safer. Falls is one of the biggest dangers affecting the elderly and are one of the leading reasons for visits to the Emergency Department at the hospital. Falls can be prevented through education and home modification. A Care Manager is equipped to help prevent falls before they happen.

Medication Management. When your elderly loved one is taking multiple medications, prescribed by a variety of doctors, for a variety of ailments, the whole process of keeping it all straight can be daunting. If it appears overwhelming for you, consider how it looks to your aging parent. If you are not in a position to help with medication compliance and management, the Care Manager can. By implementing and overseeing a system for managing the array of medications, dosage times, doctors and refills, the Care Manager can reduce your stress and lessen the chance of overdose or non-compliance.

In-Home Care. A Care Manager is not a personal caregiver. A Care Manger can help with recommending in home non-medical care, can oversee the caregiver’s work and observe the interaction with our loved one to insure a “good fit” after they are hired. Recommendations can be made to modify or expand the job in order to enrich the relationship between caregiver and client, your loved one. With a Care Manager in place, you can rest assured that the needs of your loved one are being met.

Help and Advice. Sometimes situations arise that have you scratching your head as to what to do. Since every situation is difference, every set of circumstances is different, it is nearly impossible to predict what can come up that you might have questions about. Think of your Care Manager as a sounding board for those questions. She may have some ideas of her own to suggest during her visits with your loved one, or you may be concerned about something that has come to your attention. The Care Manager will work out a program that will work best for your situation. It can include as little or as much care as you need and can afford and can change as the challenges increase or decrease.